Food Scene
Twelve Triangles
90 Brunswick StOne of the best sourdough loaves in town
Delicious Italian/Scottish cooking, with much of the produce grown in Carina & Victor's own garden
23 locals recommend
Contini George Street
103 George StreetDelicious Italian/Scottish cooking, with much of the produce grown in Carina & Victor's own garden
They make a lot of their own delicious deli produce and their Millionaire's Shortbread is simply the best!
21 locals recommend
Herbie of Edinburgh
66 Raeburn PlThey make a lot of their own delicious deli produce and their Millionaire's Shortbread is simply the best!
The original Italian deli with fresh veg from Sicily flown in every week
189 locals recommend
Valvona Crolla
19 Elm RowThe original Italian deli with fresh veg from Sicily flown in every week
Friendly knowledgeable staff and the best of European cheeses. Try the Lanark or Dunsyre Blue, produced in the border hills by the Errington Family
56 locals recommend
IJ Mellis Cheesemongers
6 Bakers PlaceFriendly knowledgeable staff and the best of European cheeses. Try the Lanark or Dunsyre Blue, produced in the border hills by the Errington Family
Their Swedish Farmer loaf is the other great local sourdough and they make lots of very Swedish cookies and cakes too.
81 locals recommend
Söderberg Bakery Shop
45 Broughton StTheir Swedish Farmer loaf is the other great local sourdough and they make lots of very Swedish cookies and cakes too.
For more than 45 years, this has been Edinburgh's most-trusted trattoria. Good, unpretentious, and they even do porridge for breakfast!
101 locals recommend
Vittoria on the Walk
3 Brunswick StFor more than 45 years, this has been Edinburgh's most-trusted trattoria. Good, unpretentious, and they even do porridge for breakfast!
Jérôme Henry was head chef for Anton Mosimann's private club in Belgravia before opening this perfectly formed little jewel less than ten minutes from your front door. Let's just say London's loss is Edinburgh's gain!
17 locals recommend
Le Roi Fou
1 Forth StJérôme Henry was head chef for Anton Mosimann's private club in Belgravia before opening this perfectly formed little jewel less than ten minutes from your front door. Let's just say London's loss is Edinburgh's gain!
Jean-Michel Gauffre hails from the Languedoc, so your cassoulet will be kosher and your steak will be blue. Mangez bien, mes amis!
21 locals recommend
La Garrigue
31 Jeffrey StJean-Michel Gauffre hails from the Languedoc, so your cassoulet will be kosher and your steak will be blue. Mangez bien, mes amis!
Characteristically French food made with the finest seasonal Scottish ingredients like wild Scottish snails from the Isle of Barra, pure breed of Dexter beef, Shorthorn and Highland Wagyu beef, chickens and cockerels from Linda Dick and organic lamb from Sascha Grierson
172 locals recommend
L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant
56 Broughton StCharacteristically French food made with the finest seasonal Scottish ingredients like wild Scottish snails from the Isle of Barra, pure breed of Dexter beef, Shorthorn and Highland Wagyu beef, chickens and cockerels from Linda Dick and organic lamb from Sascha Grierson
Thoughtful and imaginative Scottish cooking at lunchtime or dinner, with a bar menu that offers things like 'raw halibut, sorrel and celeriac' for £5.00 and 'fried partridge legs, fermented blackcurrant, miso' for £7.50
21 locals recommend
Fhior
36 Broughton StThoughtful and imaginative Scottish cooking at lunchtime or dinner, with a bar menu that offers things like 'raw halibut, sorrel and celeriac' for £5.00 and 'fried partridge legs, fermented blackcurrant, miso' for £7.50
Deservedly popular and very local, this is just a five minute walk away
12 locals recommend
Little White Pig
26B Dublin StDeservedly popular and very local, this is just a five minute walk away
Drinks & Nightlife
Bramble Bar & Lounge
16A Queen StGreat cocktails
Great cocktails with views to the castle and over the city
84 locals recommend
Harvey Nichols Forth Floor Brasserie and Bar
30-34 St Andrew SquareGreat cocktails with views to the castle and over the city
The Cumberland Bar
1-3 Cumberland StCask conditioned real ales and a wonderful beer garden
A genuinely independent brew pub with a great selection of craft beers and ales.
82 locals recommend
BrewDog Edinburgh
143 CowgateA genuinely independent brew pub with a great selection of craft beers and ales.
The Stand Comedy Club
5 York PlaceThe original and best year-round comedy venue
THE place to discover whiskies you've never heard of before. They also have a place in Leith, which is worth checking out
80 locals recommend
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
28 Queen StTHE place to discover whiskies you've never heard of before. They also have a place in Leith, which is worth checking out
A long-time Leith staple, this is a great place to see real Edinburgh folk, hear live music and grab a bite of modern British pub food.
275 locals recommend
The Shore Restaurant
1 ShoreA long-time Leith staple, this is a great place to see real Edinburgh folk, hear live music and grab a bite of modern British pub food.
Beautiful stained glass, horseshoe bar, this is a quintessential 19th century Edinburgh boozer that's stood the test of time.
125 locals recommend
Cafe Royal
19 W Register StBeautiful stained glass, horseshoe bar, this is a quintessential 19th century Edinburgh boozer that's stood the test of time.
Parks & Nature
Royal Botanic Garden station
A beautiful green space just ten minutes walk away
If you time it right, you can walk out to the tidal Cramond Island: you've got 4 hours between tides!
102 locals recommend
Cramond Beach
2 Kirk CramondIf you time it right, you can walk out to the tidal Cramond Island: you've got 4 hours between tides!
Arts & Culture
Fruitmarket Gallery
45 Market StWorld class contemporary art
Worth visiting for Charles Jenks's 'Landform' alone, but there's a great permanent collection of work by all the modernist greats like Picasso, Mondrian, Matisse, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. Look at Douglas Gordon's work on the stairs and see if you can spot my name: (it is actually there...)
1010 locals recommend
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
75 Belford RdWorth visiting for Charles Jenks's 'Landform' alone, but there's a great permanent collection of work by all the modernist greats like Picasso, Mondrian, Matisse, Warhol, and Lichtenstein. Look at Douglas Gordon's work on the stairs and see if you can spot my name: (it is actually there...)
Significant UK and international artists including Calum Innes, Alison Watt and Garry Fabian Miller
19 locals recommend
Ingleby Gallery
33 Barony StSignificant UK and international artists including Calum Innes, Alison Watt and Garry Fabian Miller
Unlike anything else in the UK, a multi-arts centre with many exhibitions and an internationally respected performing arts programme. Probably the hottest venue during the Festival
161 locals recommend
Summerhall
Unlike anything else in the UK, a multi-arts centre with many exhibitions and an internationally respected performing arts programme. Probably the hottest venue during the Festival
World-class open-air art, with specially commissioned works by Anish Kapoor, Andy Goldsworthy, Anthony Gormley and others. Allow three hours, and take a car...
107 locals recommend
Jupiter Artland
World-class open-air art, with specially commissioned works by Anish Kapoor, Andy Goldsworthy, Anthony Gormley and others. Allow three hours, and take a car...
More than 250 separate artworks in this truly unique garden/gallery, open only from June-September.
16 locals recommend
Little Sparta - the garden of Ian Hamilton Finlay
More than 250 separate artworks in this truly unique garden/gallery, open only from June-September.
This spiky red sandstone, neo-gothic pile has a good collection of paintings & photos of the good, great and merely famous. The cafe's not bad either
523 locals recommend
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen StThis spiky red sandstone, neo-gothic pile has a good collection of paintings & photos of the good, great and merely famous. The cafe's not bad either
August sees one of the city's most beautiful squares come alive to the sound of authors. Book early!
14 locals recommend
Edinburgh International Book Festival
121 Charlotte SquareAugust sees one of the city's most beautiful squares come alive to the sound of authors. Book early!
Sightseeing
Arthur's Seat
Where else can you stand on a city centre volcano?
You can walk this river from the sea to the Pentland Hills, but the section between Stockbridge and the picturesque, Dutch-inspired Dean Village is handiest. Combine it with a visit to the Galleries of Modern Art
147 locals recommend
Water of Leith Walkway
Water of Leith WalkwayYou can walk this river from the sea to the Pentland Hills, but the section between Stockbridge and the picturesque, Dutch-inspired Dean Village is handiest. Combine it with a visit to the Galleries of Modern Art
Shopping
If you want a different take on tartan, Howie Nicholsby's the man to meet. Ready to wear kilts in camouflage, leather and pinstripe, and not just for men: women and kids are catered for too.
7 locals recommend
21st Century Kilts 1996 | EDINBURGH
59 High StreetIf you want a different take on tartan, Howie Nicholsby's the man to meet. Ready to wear kilts in camouflage, leather and pinstripe, and not just for men: women and kids are catered for too.
The book-lovers' bookstore: a perfectly edited collection for readers of all ages
21 locals recommend
Golden Hare Books
68 St Stephen StThe book-lovers' bookstore: a perfectly edited collection for readers of all ages
Small run, independent designer of menswear inspired by the Scottish landscape
6 locals recommend
Kestin Hare
7 Customs WharfSmall run, independent designer of menswear inspired by the Scottish landscape
Pricy but very tricky ladies wear: independent, knowledgeable and friendly
11 locals recommend
Jane Davidson
52 Thistle StPricy but very tricky ladies wear: independent, knowledgeable and friendly
Cranachan & Crowdie
263 CanongateScottish edibles of all kinds
Everything from stationery to homewares, to prints, to jewellery with a strong illustrative influence. Again, just five minutes away
38 locals recommend
Curiouser & Curiouser
93 Broughton StEverything from stationery to homewares, to prints, to jewellery with a strong illustrative influence. Again, just five minutes away
Quality, affordable women' clothing in a cool, relaxed Scandinavian atmosphere. Don't talk about hygge...
Kakao by K
Quality, affordable women' clothing in a cool, relaxed Scandinavian atmosphere. Don't talk about hygge...
Essentials
Tesco Superstore
76 Duke StAll the basics
Five minutes walk away if you need something professionally washed or dry-cleaned in a hurry
12 locals recommend
Canon Mills Dry Cleaners & Laundrette
7-8 Huntly StFive minutes walk away if you need something professionally washed or dry-cleaned in a hurry
Just round the corner, open early and late, lots of fresh veg, what's not to like?
7 locals recommend
London Street Grocery
47 London StJust round the corner, open early and late, lots of fresh veg, what's not to like?